Dampening and steaming assembly for pressing irons



G. T. FIELDING Dec. 31, 1935.

DAMPENING AND STEAMING ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSING IRONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IFiled Oct. 3, 1933 M w w ATTORNEYS purpose.

Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DAMPENING ANDSTEAMING ASSEMBLY FOR. PRESSING IRONS This invention has generalreference to pressing irons and refers more particularly to an assemblywhich is in the nature of an accessory or adjunct therefor, applicableto standard types of pressing irons without requiring any materialalterations in the construction thereof and which assembly isconstructed in such a manner and so cooperates with the iron whenheated, as to effect a dampening or steaming of the materials, fabricsor articles as they are being ironed or pressed, thereby eliminating thenecessity of such other and separate operations as sponging, sprinkling,steaming or otherwise dampening the materials, fabrics or articles priorto or during the ironing or pressing of the same.

While it is realized that attempts to accomplish this purpose have beenmade, they have been more in the nature of specially constructed ironswhich have been found deficient and open to the objection that theyfall, from a practical standpoint, to satisfactorily accomplish theirThe deficiency or failure is mainly attributed to the fact that whenemployed for the purpose of dampening the materials to eliminate theusual hand sprinkling or sponging operations, said previous devices, dueto their construction and mode of operation, generate a volume of steamin ,a steam chamber which escapes therefrom in the form of a cloud ofvapor through a series of separate outlets or passages in the bottom ofthe sole plate of the iron and merely passively, gently or inertlymoisten the fabric, material or article being ironed or pressed, to sucha slight degree and thus fails to properly and uniformly dampen thematerial, fabric or article and provide an adequate substitute for theusual hand sprinkling and sponging operations.

The usual and correct method of sprinkling clothes, or other articles orfabrics, prior to ironing the same, requires the usual spraying orsprinkling of water thereon, the rolling of the same compactly and theelapse of a sufficient period of time within which the'dampnessuniform-v ly penetrates throughout the entire area'of each articlebefore the ironing operation is started. Likewise, in spongingandpressing an article, it is the proper practice to uniformly applywater to the fabric or to a pressing cloth laid thereover, andimmediately thereafter when the hot iron is brought into contact withthe wet article or pressing cloth, the water particles are exploded orshattered and driven into the fabric to remove the wrinkles.

The present invention provides an improved assembly as an accessory orattachment for practically any standard make of electric,'gas or othertype of pressing irons, which assemblyis so constructed and socooperates with the heated iron, that the iron may be optionally used, 5either in its ordinary manner or for the purpose of properly ironing thematerials or articles with the same results as it the same had beenseparately sprinkled by hand under the usual method heretofore mentionedor employed for sponging 10 and pressing fabrics or articles withresults at least equal, if not superior, to those where the sponging isdone in accordance with the aforementioned hand method.

More specifically, the invention resides in the 15 provision of anassembly as an accessory or attachment for a pressing iron, whichincludes an explosionor generator chamber so constructed and so locatedwith reference to the ironing or pressing surface of the sole plate ofthe iron, 20 and having such means of communication therewith that whenwater is fed, drop by drop,- to the heated surface of said chamber, itis exploded, shattered and forcibly driven in the form of one or morecontinuous sheets of hot moisture 25 through outlets and into thethreads and interstices of the fabric, material or article to func tionas a proper substitute for the hand sprinkling or sponging operations.

The invention also makes provision for control 0 means, by virtue ofwhich the feed of the water to the explosion or generator chamber may beregulated proportionate to the heat of the iron, so as to supply to thematerial, fabric or article being ironed or pressed, any degree ofdampness 35 from a wetting thereof to a light damping or to supply a drysteam, where a steaming operation alone is desired.

As a further feature, the invention provides outlets, leading from theexplosion or generator 0 chamber and opening through the pressing orironing surface of the sole plate of the iron, which are in the form ofcontinuous passages or slots so arranged or located with respect to saidsurface and each other, as to insure a com- 5 plete and uniformdampening or wetting. simulating precisely or serving as a substitutefor the usual hand sprinkling or sponging operations.

The invention aims for some of its other objects to provide an improvedassembly as an accessory or attachment for irons which embodies fewparts easily disassembled for cleaning or repairs and which parts aresimple and notcomplicatedin their construction, thus admitting of theireconomical production,.assembly and incorporation in the standard typesof'pressing irons, irrespective of the manner in which they are heated,and which accessory functions to perform its objects and purposes with ahigh degree of efiiciency.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is now madeto the following specification and accompanying drawings in which therehas been disclosed several preferred embodiments of-the invention, whilethe appended claims cover, in addition to the forms shown, othervariations and modifications which fall within the scope and spirit ofthe invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a dampening and steaming assembly for apressing iron with parts broken away and shown in section to disclosethe underlying structure and illustrating the same associated with anelectric iron having. a heat regulating means, the iron being shown inlight phantomed lines.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lower sole plate section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the lineindicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view taken approximately onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken approximately onthe line indicated at 5-5 in Fig. 1 and particularly illustrating thecontrol valve structure.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of assembly partiallybroken away to disclose the underlying structure.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a'plane indicated bythe line I-'I in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse,sectional'view taken on the line indicated'at 8-8in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, II) designates thebody portion of a pressing iron which, in the present instance, is ofthe electrically heated type and is equipped with a manipulating elementII for manually controlling the degree of temperature to which the ironis heated, although it is to be understood that this is merelyillustrative of one form or type of iron to which the invention isapplicable. The iron includes a handle I2 connected with the body by abail I3 and a sole plate designated generally by the reference characterI4. 7

In one form of the invention as disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, thesole plate I4 includes upper and lower mating sections I5 and I6 whichmay be connected in any desired manner, but in the present disclosure,are connected by screws IT. The lower face I8 of the upper section ismachined or otherwise treated to present a smooth flat surface and theupper face I9 of the lower section is also machined or treated topresent a smooth flat surface which surfaces I8 and I9 are designed tointimately contact with each other when the sections I5 and I6 of thesole plate are properly connected together. The upper face or surface I9of the lower section is provided with a longitudinally extending grooveor depression 20 located medially of the width thereof and terminatingat its opposite ends in spaced relation to the point or toe portion ofthe front of the sole plate of the iron and the heel portion of the rearof the iron. The groove or depression 20 is preferably, as shown, ofcross sectionally concave arcuate formation presenting a continuoussmooth concave arcuate wall 2 I. The upper surface I9 of the lowersection is also provided with a plurality of distributor grooves ordepressions 22, extending in a direction approximately transversely ofthe sole plate of the iron and located between the side edges 23 of thesole plate and the side edges of the longitudinal groove or depression20. The distributor grooves 22 terminate in spaced relation to the sideedges 23 of the sole plate and the side edges of the longitudinaldepression 20. Feed grooves 24 of lesser depth and width than thegrooves 22, extend from the inner ends of the distributor grooves 22 tothe longitudinal groove 20 and open respectively into the grooves 20 and22.

Outlet slots 25 corresponding approximately in length to the length ofthe distributor grooves 22 are formed in the sole plate section I6 andopen through the lower or pressing surface 26 thereof and through thebottom wall of the distributor grooves 22, respectively. When the upperand lower sections I5 and I6 of the sole plate are assembled andconnected in mated relation, it

will be apparent that the then covered longitudinal groove 20 defines aclosed chamber C which will be hereinafter referred to as the explosionor steam chamber, while the covered feed grooves form feed passages Pleading from the explosion or generator chamber C to the distributorducts D defined by the grooves 22 when covered by the lower surface I8of the upper sole plate section I5.

In order to supply water to the chamber C, a conduit pipe 21 isemployed, the lower end of which extends through an opening 28 in theupper section I5 of the sole plate, thence upwardly through the bodystructure of the iron and communicates through an elbow structure 29with a conduit section 30 which extends forwardly and upwardly to acontrol valve 3|, mounted on and carried by the forward portion of thehandle I 2. In the present disclosure, a water conduit pipe 32 extendsrearwardly from the control valve 3I through the handle I2 to a nipple33 protruding from the rear of the handle structure and which nipple isadapted to have removably fitted therecver, a flexible water conduit 34,leading from a source of water supply, not shown, but which may be inthe form of a reservoir, located at an appropriate distance above theironing board, to effect a gravity feed of the water to the controlvalve intake chamber.

As the water is supplied to the explosion or steam generator chamber Cin a succession of drops, assuming the sole plate to be heated to theproper degree, the drops spin and roll in globular form along the heatedsurface of the wall 2| of the longitudinal groove 20, exploding andshattering at various points throughout the length of the chamber C,into tiny water particles which are thereby forcibly driven into andthroughout the fabric through the outlets 25, to which outlets they aredirected by the feed passages P and distributor ducts D. By virtue ofthe continuous formation of the outlet slots, the fabric is exposed toone or a succession of continuous moving sheets of hot moisture as theiron passes thereover, to properly effect a uniform dampening of thefabric in the path traversed by the iron.

It should here be noted that the distributor slots 22 defining the ductsD, which are located in close proximity to the point of supply of waterto the explosion or generator chamber C, have their inner endsproportionately spaced a relatlvely greater distance from the generatorchamber than those remote from the point of supply, so as to avoid thefeeding of too great a volume of water particles at this point and tomore uniformly effect the distribution of the water particles throughoutthe various outlet slots 25. It should also be observed that byproviding the outlets in theform of continuous relatively narrowelongated slots, a complete and uniform dampening or wetting of thematerial, fabric or article being ironed or pressed is insured so as tosimulate more precisely and serve as a true substitute for the handsponging cr sprinkling operations. The control valve 3| is constructedso as to perform two functions, namely, to provide means acting as athrottle regulating the volume of the flow of water to the explosion orsteam chamber, and to provide the user'of the iron with means foroptionally cutting off or premitting of the flow of water to thechamber. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the control valve is provided with anintake chamber 35 with which the forward end of the conduit pipe 32communicates. The inlet chamberis provided with a valve seat 36 withwhich the terminal 31 of a needle valve shank 38 is designed tocooperate to varythe size of the orifice defined by the seat 36, byturning of the exposed manipulating head 40 to advance the terminal 31towards or retract the same from the'seat 36. In order that the user maybe guided as to the setting of the needle valve, suitable indicia M anda pointer 42 may be provided on the outer face of the manipulating head40 and graduations 43 with which the pointer cooperates, may beinscribed on the adjacent face of the control valve casing 3|. The valvecasing is provided with a passage 44 leading from the intake chamber 35to a secondary or intermediate chamber 45 which, in turn communicateswith an outlet chamber 46 through a valve seat 41 which is controlled bya valve head 48, normally urged into seated relation with-the seat 41 bya spring 49. The valve head 49 is provided with a stem 56 whichprotrudes from the valve casing and is provided with a push button 5|located in a convenient position to be actuated by the thumb of the userto unseat the valve head 46 from the seat 41 to permit of the flow ofthe water from the secondary chamber 45'to the outlet chamber 46. It isapparent that upon release of the push button 5|, the spring 49 willautomatically seat the valve head 46 and cut off the flow of the waterfrom the secondary chamber 45 to the outlet chamber 46. The conduit pipe30 communicates with the outlet chamber 46 through an opening 52 so thatthe water entering the outlet chamber 46 is conveyed therefrom downwardly through the conduit 30, the elbow 29 and con-.

duit 2'! to the chamber C.

If for any reason it is found desirable to retain the valve head 46 inopen relation to its seat 41 to permit of a continuous flow of waterfrom the secondary chamber 45 to the outlet chamber 46 for continuouslysupplying water to the chamber C without manually holding the push buton pressed inwardly, means is provided for this purpose. The means maybe of any desired form, but as ilustrated in the present instance, asemi-annular flange 53 is provided on a boss 54 on the inner side of thepush button 5|, said flange being spaced from the push button and beingadapted to engage under the detent head 55 of a stud or screw 56 uponturning of the push button head, after it has been moved inwardly tounseat the valve head 41;

Obviously. under this construction and arrangement, the volume of waterwhich is admitted to the chamber 0, coupled with the degree .oftemperature to which the sole plate is heated, determines the degree ofdampness which will be supplied to the material, fabric or article beingironed or pressed and it is obvious that a small volume of wateradmitted with a. high degree of heat of the sole plate of the iron,

will cause the generation of practically dry steamv which are notequipped with a heat control tutuing continuous outlets which also openthrough said surface 62 and intersect the recess.

A circular plug 65 having peripheral threads is threadedly engaged inthe recess 6|. The inner or upper end wall 66 of the plug intimatelycontacts with the inner end wall 61 of thefrecess 6| except for themedial portion thereof which is depressed as at 68 to define togetherwith the recess wall 61 an explosion or steam chamber C with whichchamber a water supply conduit .69 communicates through'an opening I6 inthe sole plate. The outlet grooves 63 and 64 are of greater depth thanthe recess 6| so that the portions H thereof, which intersect therecess, are sunk below the inner end wall 61, and together with theinner or upper end wall 66 of the plug, define feed passages P fordirecting the water particles from the chamber C to the outlet grooves63 and 64. Preferably, the medial depressed portion has a steppedsurface 12 so as to centralize the explosive action and therebyuniformly distribute the water particles to the several grooved outlets64 and 65.

The outer or lower wall I3 of the plug 65 is finished and polished so asto conform to the pressing surface 62 of the sole plate and'is providedwith one or more grooves 14 which, in addition to serving as means withwhich 2, screwdriver or other implement is engaged for tuming the plugto screw and unscrew the same, also functions, whenproperly set, tocommunicate with the outlet grooves 64 and 65, as continua tions thereoffor distributing the water particles .orsteam over the fabric covered bythe plug wall lower pressing surface thereof, a distributor duct foreach outlet of a length approximately equal thereto and in directcontinuous communication therewith throughout its entire length, and apassage leading from each distributor duct to and communicating with theexplosion chamber, a water conduit leading from a source of supply tosaid chamber to feed water thereto in a succession of drops which areadapted to freely roll in globular form over the surface of the chamberand to individually explode and shatter into water particles which aredriven by the force of the explosion from the explosion chamber throughthe passages, the distributor ducts and outlets and directly into thefabric while in water particle form.

2. A sole plate fora pressing iron having an elongated water receivingexplosion chamber extending longitudinally thereof from a point adjacentthe toe to a point adjacent the heel of the iron, a plurality of narrowpassages extending laterally from the chamber on both sides thereof atlongitudinally spaced points throughout the length thereof, adistributing duct communicating with each passage, extending in the samegeneral direction as its passage and of relatively larger crosssectional area than the passage, said ducts each terminating in anelongated outlet coextensive with the duct and opening through thebottom of the sole plate, and means for supplying water to saidexplosion chamber.

' 3. A sole plate for a pressing iron having a water explosion chamberlocated in a plane in close proximity to the plane of the lowersmoothing surface thereof, said sole plate having a plurality of narrowelongated distributor ducts arranged to extend from a point adjacent theexplosion chamber to a point adjacent the margin of the sole plate, saidducts each terminating in an elongated relatively narrow outletcoextensive with its duct and opening through the smoothing surface ofthe iron, and a plurality of narrow relatively short passagesestablishing communication between the explosion chamber and thedistributing ducts.

4. A sole plate for a pressing iron having a water explosion chamberlocated in a plane in close proximity to the plane of the lowersmoothing surface thereof, said sole plate having a plurality of narrowelongated distributor ducts arranged to extend from a. point adjacentthe ex- 'plosion chamber to a point adjacent the margin of the soleplate, said ducts each terminating in an elongated relatively narrowoutlet coextensive with its duct and opening through the smoothingsurface of the iron, a plurality of narrow relatively short passagesestablishing communication between the explosion chamber and thedistributing ducts, and means for supplying water to the explosionchamber, the passages adjacent the point of supply of the water to theexplosion chamber being of relatively greater length than those remotefrom said point of supply.

5. A method of dampening and smoothing a fabric, consisting inshattering water by heat and projecting the shattered water particlesdirectly by the force of the shattering into every portion of a selectedarea of the fabric to dampen the same uniformly throughout said areaand, while in its dampened condition, applying heat and pressure to thatarea so as to dry and smooth the fabric.

GEORGE T. FIELDING.

